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Aruba, Bonaire and Curacao, or ABC Islands, are the most western of the Little Antilles. They are plain and arid, where many cactus species grow, apart from a rare kind of dividivi, known here as Watapana tree.
The ABC Islands are part of the Dutch Antilles, and their territories are part of the Netherlands. Aruba turned into an independent territory within the other, in 1986. (map)
Official Holidays
January 1st New Year
March 18th Aruba’s Day
Holy Week Good Friday / Easter Monday
April 30th Coronation Day / Queen’s Birthday
May 1st Labor Day / Holy Pentecost Monday
July 2nd Curacao Flag’s Day
September 6th Bonaire National Day
December 25th Christmas Day
December 26th Christmas Box Day
Events Calendar
January: Curacao carnival
February: Bonaire carnival
March: International Sailing Regatta, Curacao
October: Annual Sailing Regatta, Bonaire
Without settled day: Theater International Festival, Aruba.
PLANNING THE TRIP
Banks and exchange
The Aruba florin (Af) is their official currency, while the florin the Dutch Antilles currency (NAF), also known as guilder, is the currency in Bonaire and Curacao. Generally, in tourist’s zones, American dollars are accepted.
Tourist Information Abroad
Aruba
Aruba Touring Authority
Amaliastraat 16
514 JC-The Hague, Netherlands
Phone no. 70 356 2220
Fax no. 70 306 48 77
Verkeersbureau Nederlandse Antille
Badhuisweg 175
597 JP-The Hague, Netherlands
Phone no. 70 351 28 11
Fax no. 70 351 27 22
Websites
www.aruba.com
Bonaire
Interreps B.V.
Visseringlaan 24
2288 ER Rijswijk, Netherlands
Phone no. 31 70 395 4444
Fax no. 31 70 336 8333
E-mail: interrep@interrep.demon.nl
Websites
www.interknowledge.com/bonaire
Curacao
Curacao Tourist Bureau Europe
Vastland 82-84
3011 BP Rotterdam, Netherlands
Phone no. 31-10 414 2639
E-mail: ctbenl@wirehub.nl
Websites
www.curacao-tourism.com
www.curacao.com
PRACTICAL TIPS
News
There are many radio stations at the ABC Islands. The Aruba national television chain, Tele Aruba in channel 13, has local and American shows. In Bonaire you can watch Tele Curacao in channel 6 and 8, and Flamingo TV in channel 11. Almost all hotels have satellite TV.
Post Services
Main offices are downtown in Oranjestad, Willemstad and Kralendijk.
Phone And Fax
Area code in Aruba is 29 78; in Bonaire 59 97 and in Curacao 59 99. You can make local and international calls from hotels, phone companies next to post offices, as well as from the Setel, Setar and Telbo offices, where you also can send faxes and telegrams.}
Tourist information local offices
Aruba:
Aruba Tourism Authority, 172 L.G. Smith Boulevard, Oranjestad.
Phone no. 82 37 77
Fax no. 83 47 02
Bonaire:
Bonaire Tourist Board
Kaya Simon Bolivar 12, Kralendijk
Phone no. 83 22
Fax no. 84 08
Curacao:
Tourism Development Bureau
PO Box 8266, Pietermaai 19, Willemstad.
Phone no. 461 6000
Fax no. 461 2305
Medical Assistance
In Aruba and Curacao there are modern, European standard, hospitals, apart from excellent private doctors. Bonaire also has some competent clinics. Decompression chambers for submarine lovers can be found in the three islands.
Emergency numbers
Aruba: 11 100
Bonaire: 11
Curacao:
Shopping
At these islands are many duty free shops. Though in Bonaire the offer is a bit limited, the city of Oranjestad in Aruba is a shopping paradise, and you’ll find fashion clothes, perfumes and local handicraft, though when cruisers arrive, shops are filled with people. It’s not surprising to find in this island, shops open seven days a week.
In Curacao you can make excellent free tax buys, and has also several malls.
Voltage:
Aruba -110 AC 60 cycles
Bonaire - 127 AC, 50 cycles and 120 AC 50 cycles
Curacao - 110-130 AC, 50 cycles
Night Life
Aruba has excellent restaurants, dancing halls and bars with music, besides 11 casinos. Bonaire is a quieter place, but even though you’ll find some bars and places to dance. Curacao has sophisticated restaurants and casinos.
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